Vapor Deposition and Solar Wind Implantation on Lunar Soil-Grain Surfaces as Comparable Processes

Vapor deposited patinas (VDP) on lunar soil grains consist of a thin (less than 1 micron) layer of amorphous silicate (glass) embedded with nanoscale Fe(sup 0) globules as seen in many TEM images. VDPs are also present on larger space-weathered lunar rocks; these larger samples will not be discussed here although the process of vapor deposition is common to exposed grains of all sizes. Whether or not the majority of the Fe(sup 0) globules present in lunar soils reside in vapor deposited patina is a matter of some concern. Some Fe(sup 0) globules are clearly seen to reside within the glass of agglutinates and might represent remobilized Fe(sup 0) in agglutinitic melts. remobilized Fe(sup 0) in agglutinitic melts. We argue that because VDP coatings are present only on the surfaces of lunar soil grains, their distribution as a surface correlated component (SCC) of lunar soils should parallel those of Solar Wind Elements (SWE) implanted in the outermost rinds of lunar soil grains. SWE residing in the interior of soils grains make up the volume correlated component (VCC). Relative to Fe(sup 0) in VDP, the distribution of various SWE have been studied well. The reason is understandable because instrumentation for nanoscale imaging is not ubiquitous. In this study we use the distribution of SWE in lunar soils as a guide to understanding the fate of Fe(sup 0) in VDP.